Albert Warner, Hazel Mae Swisegood Warner

WARNER, SWISEGOOD

Posted By: Marlene Skalberg (email)
Date: 8/19/2021 at 12:18:33

MURDER AND SUICIDE
One of the worst tragedies to ever happen in this vicinity occurred Friday morning at about 11 o’clock at the Warner home seven miles south of Nodaway, when Albert Warner shot his wife and then himself. The Warners had been having domestic trouble for some time but just what happened Friday is not known. Mr. Warner called his brother’s home asking him to come down at once as it was important. A neighbor Mr. Swan living a short distance from the Warners saw Mrs. Warner lead the home carrying their 18 month old baby, go thru the front gate and start up the road toward the Swan home. When she was about half way or 150 years from the house, Mr. Warner cut thru a small orchard just north of the house, over took her and fired two shots at her. The first struck her in the back and she threw up her arms dropped the baby and staggered on a few feet when the second shot struck her in the back of the head coming out through her mouth Mr. Warner stood beside her fallen body a few seconds then fired a shot into his forehead diving instantly. He used a 22 rifle. It is thought he was intoxicated at the time as he had been doing a great deal of late it is said. Mr. Swan phoned to another neighbor and together they went to scene of the tragedy, When they reached the spot, the baby girl, unhurt stood at her mothers head. Besides the little girl there are two children by a former wife, Gerald, age 15 and Arlene age 11, who were at school at the time. Mr. Warner was a well to do farmer and had lived south of Nodaway all his life. Mrs. Warner was a nurse, Miss Hazel Swisegood of near Peoria, Illinois. Her people came and took the little girl and her body to their home. Short services were held for the wife and mother Saturday before they left. She was 36 eyers of age and he 43.
Funeral services were held Sunday for Mr. Warner at Guss and his body was interred in the Guss Cemetery beside his former wife and their daughter, Geraldine who died in infancy.
Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Friday, December 16, 1927, page 12